Prophecy

CHAPTER VI

Satan's Organization

JEHOVAH'S great prophet foretold another sign in heaven that would appear unto those of the temple class. "And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." (Rev. 12:3,4) This scripture is also a prophecy, and it is apparent that its fulfilment takes place approximately at the same time that the prophecy relating to the woman giving birth to the man child is fulfilled, as stated in the scripture. If that conclusion is correct, we should be able to find some facts showing its fulfilment.

The prophecy discloses a great red dragon ready to devour the man child of the woman as soon as it is born. Dragon is one of the names God gave the Devil. It refers to Satan the enemy and all the wicked agencies which he employs. Red, like unto fire, symbolizes that which is destructive. The meaning of the word "dragon" is that which devours. "Red dragon" therefore represents the devilish and extremely wicked organization moving to devour and destroy Zion and the man child, which is the new nation or government that shall rule the world in righteousness.

Therefore the conclusion is that the "great red dragon" in the prophecy represents Satan's organization that is opposed to God's organization. There is

both a visible and an invisible part of Satan's organization, because Satan is a spirit being invisible to human eyes. The number seven is a symbol of that which is complete and invisible, while the number ten symbolizes that which is complete and visible to man. The two numbers, being divinely symbolic numbers, therefore represent the complete organization of Satan, both invisible and visible. The "seven crowns" represent the complete power and authority that is exercised over his organization, and which is invisible to human eyes, and also that the controlling power of the great organization of Satan is invisible to man. "Ten horns" is a symbol of complete dominating power over all the nations of the earth. Jesus told his disciples that Satan the Devil is the invisible ruler of the world and is opposed to him. (John 14:30) Paul gave similar testimony. — 2 Cor. 4: 3, 4.

That Satan's organization invisible is divided into and operated by departments under subrulers, is quite reasonable; and the conclusion is supported by the Scriptures. We know that is true with reference to the visible part, and the visible always reflects that rule by which the invisible is governed. In addition to this, the prophet of God mentions the "prince of Persia" and the "prince of Grecia" that opposed the angel of the Lord and therefore represented the Devil. (Dan. 10:13, 20) This would indicate that the Devil has appointed an acting prince over each nation or earthly division of his organization. Paul tells of these "rulers of the darkness", and that they war against the members of God's organization. — Eph. 6:12.

Many have been deceived concerning Satan and made to believe that he does not amount to much, and that he was bound long ago, and that he has no organization. Many have also been induced to believe

that Satan has horns and hoofs, and carries an asbestos poker with which he stirs the fires of his inferno and tortures the creatures who fall into his clutches. Satan himself is authority for all such fantastic lies which his agencies use to confuse the people and to blind them to his real course of action.

The Scriptural proof is that Satan is a subtle, wily, elusive, fraudulent, hypocritical and very deceptive enemy of righteousness. He represents himself as an angel of light, and covers his deadly lies with a little truth, that he may deceive the unsuspecting. (2 Cor. 11:14; 2 Thess. 2:9) So subtle are his methods that he has induced many good Christian people to believe that he has nothing to do with the present world governments, and comparatively few have ever seen and appreciated the fact that he has a powerful organization. Therefore it appears to be both important and necessary to set out here the proof concerning his organization, its inception and development, and its purpose.

BABYLON

That which moved Lucifer to rebel and become Satan, the enemy of God, was covetousness. He desired to have an exalted throne above others of creation, that they might bow and worship him even as creation bows before the throne of Jehovah and worships him. He set about to complete his organization, both among the spirit creatures and among human creatures. On earth he organized men into religious systems. Then he organized the commercial power and supported it with a military arrangement, and then a political organization. He saturated the entire organization with a religion. The leaders in the commercial and political parts of his organization he made

the principal ones of the flock of the religious part of the organization, and thereby formed a combination of all three parts. Babylon well represents the religious, Assyria the political, and Egypt the commercial factor of his powerful organization. In the world powers that succeeded these three named above, the three elements of commercial, ecclesiastical and political are always prominent and appear as the governing factors.

Babylon was founded by Nimrod, who was the son of Cush, who was the son of Ham. "And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar." (Gen. 10:10, 6-9) The name Nimrod means "rebellious, or him that rules". (Cruden's) Nimrod left the land that had been assigned to his father Ham, and invaded the land assigned to Shem in the northern regions, and settled in the land of Shinar. In this he manifested the covetous and rebellious spirit of Satan. It seems fitting that, when the time came for God to send faithful men into the promised land of Canaan, he called Abraham and brought him away from the country controlled by Satan through his agencies. He took Abraham out of the very birthplace of Satan's organization.

Babylon or Babel is, according to the native etymology of the word, spelled Bab-il, and means "the gate of God". The Hebrew word Babel means "confusion". "Therefore is the name of it called Babel [margin, confusion]; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth." (Gen. 11:9) It is also called Sheshach (Shishaki), the name of the moon god. The city of Babel was built by Nimrod (the rebellious) for the

manifest purpose of making a name for others than Jehovah the true God. (Gen. 11: 4) The fact that the city was given the name Bab-il (Babylon) is proof that it was built in defiance of Jehovah God and was the enemy organization from its very inception. It was thus named in derision and in defiance of Almighty God.

The Scriptures show that the deity of the rebellious city was "Bel". (Isa. 46:1; Jer. 50:2; 51:44) Authorities, such as Dr. Strong, state that "Bel" is a contraction from the name "Baal", which means master, husband, god or lord. Jehovah is the Lord God and "husband" of his people and his organization. (Isa. 54: 5) Satan, otherwise called Bel or Baal, was and is the husband and lord of his organization on earth, set up with Nimrod as its visible head. Nimrod became the husband of his own mother. Therefore Satan created and married Babylon his organization. All the acquisition by Satan was the result of his covetousness. Jehovah, through his prophet, says: "O thou that dwellest upon many waters [peoples and nations], abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness." (Jer. 51:13) Jehovah named Satan the Dragon, which means devourer or one who swallows up; and thus Jehovah identifies Bel (Baal) as Babylon's god, and the city or organization of Babylon as the Devil's organization which devours others. — Jer. 51: 34.

Baal-worship was the established Devil religion. The devotees worshiped the Devil even as he had designed that they should do. (1 Ki. 16: 31-33; 18:19-40) "Religion" was the most prominent part of the organization of the city of Babylon. The manifest purpose was to get the minds of the people turned

away from Jehovah and to induce them to worship the Devil and his creation.

According to one authority, the name Bel means "the confounder", and he suggests that Babylonians worshiped Bel, and not Jehovah, as the confounder of the language. The confounding of the language or speech at Shinar resulted from the wrong-doing of Satan and his agencies; and therefore Satan is properly called a confounder. Satan has confounded the religious belief and practices, and has blinded the people to the truth. God speaks through his prophet against the Devil and his organization, and commands his faithful witnesses thus: "Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces." — Jer. 50: 2.

Nimrod, the first king of that wicked city, was a giant and a great hunter of wild beasts, a great campaigner and acquirer of property by seizure, and exalted himself before the people as greater than Jehovah God. He shows forth, therefore, the propensities of the religionists, the profiteer or militarist, and the politician. It is manifest, however, that the chief purpose of the organization, put foremost at that time, was to establish the Devil-worship and bring reproach upon the name of Jehovah God.

In the course of time Nebuchadnezzar succeeded Nimrod as the ruler of Babylon. He also was a strong sponsor of the Devil religion. "For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver." (Ezek. 21:21) "Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was three-score cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits; he set it

up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon." (Dan. 3.:1) He was a wicked, tyrannical and cruel ruler. (Dan. 4:27) Jehovah's prophet speaks of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon as a dragon: "He hath swallowed me up like a dragon." (Jer. 51:34) Therefore the Lord, through his prophet, identifies the king of Babylon as the Devil's representative and gives him one of the Devil's names. The same prophet also calls the king of Babylon "the king of Sheshach". — Jer. 25:26.

The Prophet Isaiah definitely identifies Lucifer the Devil as the ruler of Babylon, and supports the identification God gave through Jeremiah: "Thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north." (Isa, 14:4,12,13) This agrees with the fact that Nimrod established his organization in Babylon in the north instead of in the south; therefore that in forming that organization he invaded the land settled by others.

The evidence is strong and convincing that the king, ruler, god and husband of Babylon is Satan, that old Serpent, the Devil. Babylon is thereby Satan's wife, and hence is symbolized by an evil and immoral woman. It has been said that Babylon pictured 'the church nominal which was originally the gateway to glory and to God', but which fell and "became a gateway to error and confusion and a miserable mixture composed chiefly of tares and hypocrites". The

Scriptures do not support that conclusion. Babylon was never the nominal organization of God or of Christ. Babylon was never on the side of the Lord God, but was organized in defiance of Jehovah God and devoted to the Devil religion, and therefore could not fall away from God. Therefore it could not mean an apostate religion; but it does mean that which it is and always has been, a devilish religion and devilish organization. The fact that religions other than the so-called "Christian religion" have fallen to Satan's organization is entirely a different matter.

Jehovah called it Babel, or "confusion", from the time it was founded on the plains of Shinar; and therefore Babylon could not represent an organization that was once the gateway to glory. He called it confusion, because it was the place where he confused the tongues or speech of the people. Babylon worshiped the Devil from the very beginning. The facts show beyond all doubt that Babylon (Bab-il) is the organization founded by Jehovah's arch-enemy, Satan the Devil. That name has from the very beginning stood for the Devil's organization, and still stands therefor. Manifestly it is only in irony and derision that God addresses it as a virgin. — Isa. 47:1.

The Scriptures show that the Devil's organization is of two parts, to wit, (1) that which is invisible to man and which really controls, and hence controls the entire organization; and (2) that part which is visible to man. The organization is designated "this present evil world", over which Satan is the god. (Gal. 1:4; 2 Cor. 4: 3, 4) The invisible part is called "heaven", because invisible; while the visible part is called "earth", because visible to man. (2 Pet. 3:7) "The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. ... I will punish the world for their evil,

and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. . . . Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger." — Isa. 13:1-13; Rev. 17:3-5,18.

The construction of the ancient city of Babylon represented both her heavenly and her earthly divisions and position. Out from the well-spring in Eden flowed the River Euphrates, which well represents the human race after the expulsion of man from Eden. The city of Babylon was built on both sides of that river, which flowed from north to south, and the river therefore divided the city into two parts. In one part of the city was built the temple, and in the other part of the city the palace; and the two parts were connected by a beautiful bridge and also by an underground passage. The two divisions of the city hemmed in the river, and the waters of the river passed between the two divisions. The river therefore represents the human race, hemmed in between the invisible and visible parts of the Devil's organization over which he rules. He rules there, and his organization rests upon and draws support from the people. Babylon is described in the Scriptures as a "whore", and is referred to by the Lord's prophet as 'sitting upon the multitudes, peoples and nations'. — Rev. 17:15.

MORAL STATUS

The city of Babylon, the Devil's organization, is in the Scriptures charged with and shown as guilty of fornication, idolatry, sorcery, murder, and many other crimes. (Rev. 17:5,6) Babylon the great has

"made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication". (Rev. 14: 8) "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." (Rev. 18:3) "Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee." (Isa. 47:12,13) "For thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived." (Rev. 18: 23) "For it is the land of graven images; and they are mad upon their idols." (Jer. 50: 38) "The nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad." (Jer. 51:7) "The great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication." — Rev. 19: 2.

The Scriptures associate wine with the harlot. Evidently this is not the wine that the clergy and the advocates of prohibition pretend to be against. The Lord defines what it is when he says: "They also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way." (Isa. 28: 7) "They are drunken, but not with [natural] wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink." (Isa. 29:9) It is manifest that they are intoxicated with the wicked things which the Devil has promulgated and caused to be taught. It is the wine of the harlot and is a counterfeit of the wine of God's true organization. "Wisdom . . . hath killed her beasts, she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table." — Prov. 9:1,2.

It has been suggested that "the wine of her fornication" (Rev. 17:2) means the union of the nominal church with the states of this world, thereby manifesting unfaithfulness toward "the Bridegroom", Jesus. This could hardly be true. Neither literal nor symbolic Babylon was ever espoused to the Bridegroom Jesus, and the church could not therefore be guilty of fornication in this sense. Babylon was espoused and married to the Devil, and the doctrines that she has put forth have caused others to commit fornication and adultery with her. Earth's kings have committed fornication with her. Babylon, being the product of the Devil's power, could not be represented otherwise than as an unchaste or immoral woman, representing an immoral organization in the sight of God; and hence the ruling factors of the earth, uniting with her and adopting her religion, would be guilty of uncleanness; and any system uniting with her or being seduced by her, and that had once belonged to the Lord's organization, would be guilty of fornication and adultery. The worship of idols, especially on the part of those who had once been in a covenant with Jehovah, brands them with adultery and uncleanness, all of which Babylon is guilty of starting or originating.

"Moreover he [Jehoram, king of Judah] made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto." (2 Chron. 21:11) The inhabitants of Jerusalem were God's covenant people, but when they adopted the Devil religion they committed fornication with the Devil's organization, to wit, Babylon. The same rule applies to spiritual Israel. Those who, having once been God's covenant people, thereafter became contaminated by the wine

or false doctrines of the Devil and adopted the Devil religion, committed fornication with Babylon the mother of harlots, and her name attaches to them by reason of their being adopted into her family.

Jehovah brands Babylon as "the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth". She is the mother of everything that is abominable in God's sight. She is the mother of 'the abomination that maketh desolate, spoken of by Daniel the prophet'. (Matt. 24:15) The name Babylon applies primarily to Satan's organization, and attaches to all the seed which that organization produces and which represents that evil organization.

The primary purpose of Satan is to reproach Jehovah God, turn the people away from him, and compel worship of himself. Knowing that God's creatures who love him would sing his praises and worship Him, Satan brought into being his organization, and at the very beginning thereof made religion the most prominent part; and then he makes the commercial and the political or ruling powers a part of his organization, and they adopt his devilish religion. It is the religious element of Satan's organization that he uses chiefly to blind the people concerning Jehovah God, and therefore the religious element was made the most prominent in the beginning and is the most reprehensible before God.

Until iniquity was found in Lucifer he was a part of God's organization. By reason of his covetous desire to have the worship of creation he produced a wicked religion. By the multitude of his merchandise, or the commercial factor, he has produced violence; and by his selfish desire to rule creation he produced the political or ruling elements, all of which appear in his organization. — Ezek. 28:14-18.

It was unfaithfulness on Lucifer's part that caused him to rebel against God and to form the wicked organization and become the husband thereof. Therefore Babylon is represented as an unchaste woman and means an immoral organization, and hence is the mother of all "harlot" systems. The visible part of Satan's organization, to wit, the earthly governments, is represented under the symbol of "beast", because harsh, cruel and oppressive. It is the "beast" that carries or bears up the organization of Satan; and she, the organization of Satan, rules over and sits upon the peoples and nations of the earth. (Rev. 17: 3, 5,15,18) The prophet of God calls the Devil's organization "the lady of kingdoms". (Isa. 47:5) This is manifestly an ironical statement. The Scriptural proof is conclusive, therefore, that Babylon was organized by the Devil and that it represents the Devil's complete organization.

EGYPT

Although Babylon was first organized, Egypt was the first nation of great and dominating strength. The predominating factor of Egypt was her military power, which stands for the commercial factor of the government. The real reason for building up the military power is to acquire or hold property. Almost all wars have been prompted by a covetous desire to acquire the property of others, and have been promoted by the commercial factors of the rulers of the nations. The wars which Jehovah commanded his chosen people to fight were fought either for the execution of God's judgment against evil-doers or to maintain his good name, and were always carried on for good. God is the Giver of life, and he has the perfect right to take it away when he sees good. Not so with

others. The Devil's organization has carried on war for a selfish and unrighteous purpose, and has builded great military force for that purpose.

Egypt was so called by the Greeks and Romans. The Hebrew name is Mizraim, which means "the encloser or the embanker of the sea", probably referring to the fact that the first Pharaoh turned the Nile into its course by embankments. This is supported by the words ascribed to Satan: "My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself." (Ezek. 29:3) The name is derived from the Hebrew word Mazor (Mahtsohr), and, according to Dr. Strong, means "something hemming in, a mound, a siege, and distress". Sometimes the Hebrew word Mazor is used as the name for Egypt. See Isaiah 19:6; 37:25; Micah 7:12, R. V., margin.

"Rahab," which means proud, is the ecclesiastical name applied to Egypt, doubtless because of her pride, arrogance and boastfulness against God. (Ps. 87:4; 89:10) "The land of Ham" is another designation, probably because of one of Ham's sons whose name was Mizraim. — Gen. 10: 6.

In ancient times the land of Egypt was very fertile, especially along the valley of the Nile. Its productivity depended on the regular and annual overflow of the Nile River. The people worshiped the river, evidently because Satan used this means to turn the people away from the true God and make them believe that their gods, of which he was chief, brought the blessings to them through the River Nile. The Scriptures note the absence of rain in Egypt. (Deut. 11: 10,11) Hail, lightning and thunder were probably unknown to the Egyptians until the Lord sent the plagues at the time he sent Moses there. "And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven; and the Lord

sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, . . . very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation." (Ex. 9:23,24) The extraordinary phenomenon of the fire, which manifestly was lightning, running along upon the ground, called the attention of the people to the fact that Jehovah was the Mighty God, and made for him a name amongst the people.

The natives of Egypt were afflicted with skin diseases, denoting a bad condition of the blood; thus suggesting a bad condition because of sin, as the life is in the blood. God told his people, the Israelites, that if they would be diligent and hearken unto his voice and do right, then he would put none of these diseases upon them which were upon Egypt. (Ex. 15:26; Deut. 7:15) Disobedience to God would bring upon Israel such loathsome diseases as afflicted the Egyptians. (Deut. 28: 27, 60) Thus God would teach his people that only he has the power to remove sin and affliction.

The Egyptians were noted for the use of the horse. "And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt. . . . And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty." (1 Ki. 10:28,29; see also Ezek. 17:15) The primary use of horses was for military purposes. The chariots were drawn by horses, and the chariots were used for war purposes. This arrangement made Egypt a great military power that dominated all the other nations. Because of the misuse of the horse and because it destroys trust in Jehovah, he, the Lord, does not speak favorably concerning the horse: "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in

chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!" — Isa. 31:1-3

.

The displeasure of God concerning the use of horses is shown when he directed Josiah to remove them: "And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the Lord, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire." —2 Ki. 23:11.

The enemies of Israel came with horses and chariots of war to fight against the people of God: "And the Lord said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire." (Josh. 11: 6) To hough means to hamstring a horse and make it useless. David did the same thing with the horses of the Syrians. — 2 Sam. 8: 4.

It does not appear that the word "horse" can properly apply to doctrines; but, in particular, the horse does symbolize war, war policies, and war propaganda, and therefore fitly represents a military organization.

A further proof that Egypt was a military power is that the Egyptians hated the peaceful occupation of the herders of sheep. "For every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians." (Gen. 46:34) It is well known that men or organizations that have used horses and military equipment have little use for the peaceable occupation of a shepherd; and this was first manifested by the Egyptians, and the Lord has shown it in his Word.

The Egyptians worshiped the Devil and practised the Devil religion. The magicians of Egypt were

scribes or horoscopists who drew magical lines and circles, and claimed to state thereby what their invisible gods had determined concerning a person. The commercial or military powers were subject to and practised the Devil religion, as did also the political or ruling power. The rulers were against Jehovah and oppressed the people. With indignation the king said to Moses: "Who is the Lord [Jehovah], that I should obey his voice?" — Ex. 5:2.

The religion of Egypt, used of the Devil and opposed to Jehovah, is shown by the following Scriptural proofs: "Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord [Jehovah]." (Ex. 12:12) "And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled: and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh." (Gen. 41: 8) "And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof; and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards." (Isa. 19:3) "He shall break also the images of Beth-shemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire." — Jer. 43:13.

The ruling factors of Egypt therefore comprised the king and princes, the religious professors, the militarists and the building engineers. "The princes also of Pharaoh saw her [Sarah] and commended her before Pharaoh." This shows that the king had his politicians looking after his personal interests. Concerning Joseph who was in Egypt it is written: "The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his

house, and ruler of all his substance; to bind his princes at his pleasure, and teach his senators wisdom." — Ps. 105:20-22.

Special provision was made in Egypt for the mongers of religion. "Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands." (Gen. 47: 22) In the Devil's organization he had seen to it that the religionists were particularly taken care of and provided for. The Devil has always kept religion prominent and to the fore.

Concerning the military forces it is written that Pharaoh had a great host of chariots, and horses to draw those chariots, and horsemen. (Ex. 15:4; 14: 7, 9) "Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines. Egypt riseth up like a flood [of the Nile]... . . Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow." (Jer. 46: 4, 8, 9) The Ethiopians and Libyans and Lydians were the allies of Egypt, and their place of residence was on the border of Egypt.

As proof that they were great builders and engineers, it is written: "Therefore they did set over them taskmasters, to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses." (Ex. 1:11) It is in the land of Egypt that great pyramids and temples have been builded, and without a doubt they were built at the instance of Satan. These combined ruling factors of Egypt were haughty, domineering, blood-guilty, oppressive,

presumptuous and blasphemous. — Job 21:14,15; Isa. 19:11.

The proof is conclusive that Egypt was Satan's organization and that the dominating element in the visible part of that organization was the commercial power, which created and operated the military for its selfish purposes and caused the politicians to do the bidding of that element. The religious element of the nation was that of the Devil, and wielded an uncanny influence over the other ruling factors. Here again the manifest purpose was to turn the people away from God and to corrupt them and keep them in subjection to the Devil, who was particularly represented in Egypt by Pharaoh the king. To further strengthen the proof, God in his Word definitely says that Egypt is the Dragon or Devil organization, created and organized by Satan who claims the earth and everything therein for his own selfish purposes: "Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh [the Devil] king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself" [let Jehovah keep his hands off]. — Ezek. 29: 3.

The common people of Egypt were kept in subjection to the rulers, even as Satan keeps the peoples of earth in subjection to himself by and through the rulers. The common people were not so harsh to the Israelites as were the rulers. It is even so today; the common people are not harsh against God's people, as are the ruling factors. The financial lords today claim the natural resources of the earth which God intended for the people. They also advance the opinion that they properly rule and control the people, and that by divine right. Egypt was a house of

bondage to God's people, Israel; and so the Devil's organization is holding the peoples of earth in bondage.

ASSYRIA

Assyria was also an organization of the Devil. Three elements or governing factors, to wit, religious, commercial and political, appeared therein, but that which is made the foremost is a political religion, or a political rule, or a form of religion that is used by the politicians. By that is meant that the politicians who controlled the people accepted the religion as a matter of expediency.

The prophetic books of Jonah and Nahum are devoted exclusively to Assyria and Nineveh, its capital city, and strikingly foretell a state of the Devil's organization in which a political class will be in the saddle and adopt and follow a false religion because it is thought expedient in carrying out the political purposes. In this the political factor is strongly and consistently supported by the commercial power, the "giants", which together with the politicians are made the principal ones of the flock of the religious system. The prophetic record concerning the Assyrian world power seems to clearly foretell a condition of the Devil's organization existing during the period of preparation and immediately before the great conflict between Satan's organization and God's organization. Otherwise stated, it foretold a condition existing on earth when approaching the time of the establishment of God's kingdom, which is the present time.

Nimrod was Satan's chief man on earth. He had built Babylon and three other cities in the land of Shinar, and became a great campaigner against the peacefully-disposed Shemites who lived in Mesopotamia. Asshur was one of the sons of Shem, and evident-

ly he and his offspring settled that part of the valley of Mesopotamia that lies north of Babylon. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria and, according to the Common or Authorized Version of the Bible, it was built by Asshur. (See Genesis 10:11.) The accuracy of that translation is disputed by many who claim that it was Nimrod who built Nineveh, the capital city. There is much force to their contention. Genesis 10:10 tells of the beginning of Nimrod's exploits. From verses six to twenty the record pertains to the sons of Ham, of which Nimrod was the most prominent. It does not seem reasonable that in the very midst of the description of that family it would break off the continuity of the description by interjecting the statement concerning the sons of Shem, who are mentioned in the same chapter, beginning with the twenty-second verse.

One well-recognized authority on translation (Hislop) contends with much force that the proper translation should read thus: "And he [Nimrod], being strengthened [after he had built Babylon, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar; and had become a 'mighty' man in the earth] went forth out of that land [Shinar], and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah." The marginal rendering of the Common or Authorized Version supports that conclusion, and it reads: "And he [Nimrod] went out, into Assyria." The weight of authority, therefore, is that Nimrod extended his domain and increased his might in the earth by invading Assyria and bringing Assyria into subjection to him, and that he built Nineveh as its capital city.

One of the prophets of the Lord calls the land of Assyria the land of Nimrod. (Mic. 5:6) Being the capital city, Nineveh was the official residence of the

ruler who is called "the king of Nineveh". (Jonah 3:6) It was the royal city of the second world power, and Babylon became the capital city of the third world power. These facts show that Assyria, and its chief city Nineveh, was an organization of Satan the Devil.

Nineveh was a city or organization of great importance, and is called "Nineveh, that great city"; and, again, the prophet says, "Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey." (Jonah 1: 2; 3: 3) The Hebrew day's journey being approximately twenty miles would therefore make the city approximately sixty miles in circumference. The prophet says that there were more than sixscore thousand persons (120,000) that could not discern between the right hand and the left hand. This manifestly refers to infants, and would warrant the conclusion that the total population of the city was between 600,000 and a million.

A lion is used in the Scriptures to symbolize a ruler. (Gen. 49: 9,10) Fierce lions would therefore symbolize harsh, cruel and oppressive rulers. Such rulers or political instruments operate selfishly at the behest of the mighty commercial power, and their evil deeds are screened by the hypocritical religionists. Describing the capital city of Nineveh and its rulers, the prophet says: "Where is the den of the lions, and the feeding-place of the young lions, where the lion and the lioness walked, the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid? The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his caves with prey, and his dens with ravin."  — Nah. 2:11,12, R. V.

In prophetic phrase is here described a company of cruel political rulers, who exploited the people to feed

themselves and their allies in the Devil's organization. Manifestly this record of the prophet is made that the predominating element of that part of Satan's organization could be disclosed. God then expressly declared that he is against that organization. This is the best proof that the organization mentioned there is that of Satan the Devil. — Nah. 2:13.

The king boasted of his political power and that he had a tremendous political organization: "For he saith, Are not my princes altogether [all of them] kings [politicians]?" (Isa. 10:8) Nineveh was permeated with and debauched by the Devil religion. Here is proof that the "whore" is the Devil's organization, and particularly the religious part thereof, which the Devil uses to seduce and turn the people away from Jehovah and to cause both rulers and people to walk on in darkness and evil: "Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favoured harlot [Nineveh], the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts." — Nah. 3: 4.

The Devil, by appealing to the superstitions of the political and commercial giants and rulers of the land, seduces them and causes the nation to be under his (Satan's) control. At the present day there is much evidence showing that both politicians and big financiers consult spirit mediums and thus receive information from the Devil. While the politicians in Nineveh were in the van of the organization, the commercial factor was exercising its part. The organization of Assyria, and particularly the capital city, Nineveh, was noted for its commercial wealth. "Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold; for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture." (Nah. 2:9) "Thou hast multiplied thy

merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and fleeth away." (Nah. 3:16) Let the reader now have in mind the present commercial-military powers of the world and see how well the prophet long ago described the same.

Assyria, and its capital city, was a great military power and was strongly fortified. "Thy crowned [rulers or officers of authority] are as the locusts and thy captains [field marshals or military commanders] as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day [the latter sitting around ready to act at the bidding of their owners]." — Nah. 3:17.

The Assyrian army which encamped before Jerusalem approximated 200,000 warriors. There were probably many more than that, but the record is that 185,000 of them were killed by the Lord in one night. The king of Assyria defied Jehovah God, and endeavored to turn even God's consecrated people away from him and cause them to give allegiance to the Devil. (Isa. 36:13-20) And thus is proven her military strength and her use by the Devil.

Assyria, and particularly Nineveh, her capital city, Satan's organization, and which was ruled by the politicians, profiteers, militarists and religionists, was a bloody organization preying upon others, lying to deceive, exploiting and robbing the people. "Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not; the noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the prancing horses, and of the jumping chariots." — Nah. 3:1,2.

It was the rulers of Nineveh who brought about the Samaritans, that company of religious hybrids who mingled their paganism, the Devil religion, with a pretended and superstitious worship of Jehovah.

The Lord plainly names them as "adversaries" of his people, who wanted to join with those who were God's people and to call themselves by the name of the Lord and at the same time practised the Devil's religion in the name of Jehovah. "Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur [Assyria], which brought us up hither." (Ezra 4:1-3) When God's chosen people refused to join with them, these same hypocritical religionists became the avowed enemies of the Israelites and persecuted them. (Ezra 4: 4-7) The Assyrian rulers had carried these aliens into Samaria to repopulate that land, and to establish there the Devil religion in order to corrupt their neighbors the Jews. — 2 Ki. 17: 24, 29.

The three great earthly organizations, namely, Babylon, Egypt, and Assyria, were all Satan's organizations which show his wicked organization from different viewpoints. Babylon is the mother, and Jehovah in his Word represents her as "the great whore" and "mother of harlots". (Rev. 17:1-5) The Devil's organization is that which gives birth to all the other organizations that have opposed and still oppose Jehovah God and bring reproach upon his name and persecute his anointed. It is the Devil religion that has corrupted the political rulers and the commercial giants of the world and turned them against Jehovah. God's Word indicates that when the time comes the political and financial powers will awake and, learning a measure of the truth, will hate the old "whore" and make her and everything that is visible of that wicked organization desolate. — Rev. 17:1-17; Isa. 10:5,6.

Assyria therefore more particularly represents the Devil's organization at a time when political rulers dominate the nations and work together with and under the direction of their commercial allies and support and uphold a false religion, and shows that they will so continue until the crash comes. Egypt, being the Devil's organization, particularly magnifies the commercial part, which produces and maintains the military power, as predominating, while at the same time the politicians and the religionists work together to carry out its policies. Babylon stands as the "mother" of the whole wicked system, and specifically and primarily represents the Devil's organization; and all who become a part of her properly take her name and are designated as Babylon.

COUNTERFEIT

The student of prophecy will find that every part of God's great organization has been counterfeited and duplicated by Satan, so far as it has been possible. It is apparent that Satan's purpose has at all times been to defy Jehovah God, mock and ridicule him, bring his name into disrepute and reproach before all creation, and turn all creation away from the great God. A comparison between the two will here be found of interest.

THE TRUE

ALMIGHTY GOD: He is the Creator, the Father, and the "husband" of Zion, and is holy.

ZION: The woman symbolizing God's organization Zion; the mother; the wife that gives birth to that which is holy and is approved by Jehovah.

THE SEED: The anointed of God, Jesus Christ being the Chief thereof, to carry out God's purposes.

THE FALSE

SATAN, THE FALSE AND MIMIC GOD: The creator and father of Babylon; the husband of that old "whore"; and the father of the wicked ones.

BABYLON: The woman symbolizing the Devil's organization; the mother of Satan's organization; the wife; the harlot and "mother of harlots" organization.

THE SEED: Satan's anointed rulers, that is to say, those whom he authorizes and uses to carry on the visible rule of his evil organization on earth, and particularly the religious leaders. — John 8: 42-44.

In the first great prophecy the Lord Jehovah God said: "And I will put enmity [hatred and hostility] between thee [Satan] and the woman [God's woman, his organization]; and between thy [Satan's] seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Gen. 3:15) That prophecy must be fulfilled, and is now in course of fulfilment; but the great climax is not yet, but in the future. The two seeds are now developed and made manifest. The hostility not only exists, but is also made manifest.

THE OTHER SIGN

"And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads." (Rev. 12:3) The other great sign or wonder, mentioned in the text just quoted, is seen at the same time as the great wonder or sign mentioned in the first verse of the same chapter. The first sign or wonder is the woman ready to give birth to the man child; the second is the great red dragon ready to devour the man child. Both of the signs existed long before, but both appeared at the same time to those who were

watching as Jesus had advised them to watch. — Matt. 24:42.

These two great signs or wonders are discerned after the opening of the temple in heaven, and are discerned by those who are devoted to Jehovah and who are privileged to be brought into the temple condition. It was in the year 1918 that the temple was opened in heaven; and after that time that the true followers of Christ on earth discerned the wonders or signs. The first duty of those seeing the signs is to call the attention of their fellow Christians thereto, and then to tell these truths to all who have a desire to hear. These signs are conclusive proof of the presence of the Lord and of the beginning of his kingdom, and of that which opposes his kingdom; and the truth concerning the same becomes of vital importance to every one who would know the truth.

Many professed Christians have failed to see either of the great signs or wonders. They fail to realize that Jehovah God has an organization. They do not see that the Devil has an organization, and therefore think it wrong to say anything about Satan and his organization and the agencies which he uses. Evidently such have been lulled into a sleep or semi-comatose state, and have therefore not been awake to the unfolding of the divine purpose. Jesus prophesied that there would be just such a class of professed Christians on earth at this time, and he counsels such to 'anoint their eyes with eye salve [of light and truth], that they may see'. (Rev. 3:18) Failing to do so, these are evidently not permitted to enter the temple condition.

That such a condition of lukewarmness of professed Christians would exist in the very last days of the church's earthly experience, is made certain, because

Jesus the great Prophet of God so stated. It is the hope that the truth herein set forth may aid some such lukewarm or sleepy ones to awake and avail themselves of the great privileges that the Lord has afforded them.

Now it clearly appears to those who are thoroughly awake and devoted to the Lord that the first great sign or wonder described by the Lord Jesus in the scriptures heretofore cited is God's organization, marking the beginning of the reign of Christ Jesus. It also appears that the other great wonder or sign is the Devil's organization, putting forth all its power and manifesting all its viciousness to destroy the "seed" of God's organization and to bring further reproach upon Jehovah's name.

That Satan began the forming of his organization in the day of Nimrod, the proof hereinbefore set out clearly shows. God caused the records of Babylon, Egypt and Assyria to be made in his Word for the very purpose of aiding and enlightening his people at the time of the end of the world, where we now are. (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11) Therefore it is now God's due time for the understanding of the meaning of those records concerning the three great world powers above mentioned. It will not do to say that what is here recorded about these world powers is ancient history with which we have nothing to do. The fact that the sign or wonder is revealed to men only after the Lord builds up Zion in these modern times is proof that now is the time when God would have his people to carefully examine that ancient history and learn its meaning. That history is made prominent in the Divine Record concerning Babylon, Egypt and Assyria, manifestly for the purpose of enabling the student to see the hideousness and wick-

edness of the Devil's organization at and after the time when the "great red dragon" sign or wonder appears.

The Devil will make a strong effort to cause many to misunderstand what is here written, because it exposes him and his way of wickedness. Every thoughtful person should expect that very thing. Satan's methods have ever been fraudulent and marked by lies and deception, and are yet. He is the deceiver of men, the slanderer of all who try to do right, the opposer of God and all righteousness, and the devourer of everything that would bring honor to Jehovah God's name.

Satan will attempt to induce some to believe that what is here written is written to cause rebellion of the people against the respective governments of earth. That is not the purpose of what is here written. The people could accomplish nothing by rebellion or revolution. The people are now tied hand and foot and are powerless. They are in complete bondage to the Devil and his organization. There is no possible way for the people to free themselves. As the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, so now are all the peoples of earth in bondage to the Devil's organization. God will set them free in his good way and time, as the Scriptures describe and as is herein set out.

The sole purpose of calling attention to the Devil's organization is that the people may flee from it and turn themselves wholly to the Lord God so as to have his blessings.

The masses of the human race are held in bondage to the Devil's organization, but they are blind as to what is holding them. Without doubt many of the officials or rulers of the nations of earth honestly desire to see a better condition established amongst the

people. Many honest endeavors are put forth by such men to better the government and the people, but God's time has come when the people and the rulers must know that there is no power that can bring relief and blessings except the power of Almighty God. It is therefore important for us to see and appreciate God's organization, and at the same time to see and understand the power and wickedness of Satan's organization.

PRESENT POWERS OF CONTROL

The strongest nations on earth today jointly designate themselves as "Christendom", because they claim that their religion is the "Christian religion". Other nations, which make no pretense of worshiping God and Christ, but worship idols, are called "heathen". There are two great organizations existing, to wit, God's organization and Satan's organization. To which organization do the nations of the earth today belong? Surely all fair and honest persons would want to determine this question in the right way, because the vital welfare of all the people is involved. It could be of no lasting advantage to any one to blind himself to the truth. Let the facts be dispassionately and honestly weighed, and then let the question be answered according to the truth.

The religion of the nations called Christendom is claimed to be Christian. But is it? To be a Christian one must be a true follower of Christ Jesus, and must recognize, serve, worship and obey Jehovah God. He must take God's Word as the truth, because the great Prophet Christ Jesus stated that his Word is the truth. (John 17:17) The majority of the religious leaders of so-called Christendom today deny the truth of the Bible, and deny that the blood of Jesus furnish-

es the purchase price to redeem man from the bondage of sin and death. The very basis of Christianity is the great ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ. There is no other means of salvation, as the Word of God plainly states. (Acts 4:12) Every modernist preacher on earth denies that God created man perfect, that he fell because of sin, and that the sacrifice of Jesus was to provide redemption for man; and yet these men claim to be Christians and are the leaders of the religion of Christianity.

There can not be two classes of leaders in God's organization, because God is not the author of confusion. There are two, and more, classes of leaders in Christendom, namely, the Modernist and the Fundamentalist, the Christian Scientists so called, and others. The Fundamentalists, without exception, teach that every man has an inherently immortal soul which therefore can not die, and that when that which is called death ensues, the soul continues to live either in bliss or in torment. Such is based upon Satan's lie, and Jesus declared him to be the father of lies. (Gen. 3:4; John 8:44) Every Fundamentalist leader denies that the blood of Jesus was shed that every man might have an opportunity for life, and denies that God will give every one an opportunity for such relief and restoration to life on earth.

Jesus Christ, whose name Christendom adopts, restated his Father's commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," and specifically applied that commandment to all true Christians. He further taught that the man who hates his brother is a murderer. During the World War practically all clergymen, Modernists and Fundamentalists, taught and instilled into the people the spirit of hatred, and urged them to kill one another. There were two sides in that great war, and the clergy-

men of Christendom and the principal ones of their flocks were about equally divided on the respective sides; yet all of them urged the killing of their fellow men on the opposite side. Surely this could not be the spirit of God's organization.

Jesus refused to have anything to do with the politics of the world. He was not of the world, even though he was in it. He overcame the world and told all his followers that they must overcome the world. (John 16:33; 8:23; 18:36-38) The reason he assigned was and is that Satan is the invisible ruler or god of the world. (John 12: 31; 14:30) His true disciples, authorized teachers and representatives of God, told the followers of Jesus that they must keep themselves separate and distinct from the world and devote themselves to telling the truth about God's King and his righteous kingdom. — 2 Cor. 6:17,18; Jas. 1:27.

Furthermore, they taught that he who claims to be the follower of Christ and who makes himself a part or friend of the world is an adulterer and the enemy of God. (Jas. 4:4; 1 John 2:15) All the clergy of all the denominations, both Catholic and Protestant, participate in worldly politics and diligently seek to control the political element of the governments of earth called "Christendom". All of them had to do with the carrying on of the World War. Such course is contrary to God's organization.

But some one will say, 'Was not the Christian church organized by Jesus and his apostles, and are not these clergymen still holding to the Christian church?' Jesus and his apostles did organize the Christian church on earth, and for some time thereafter that organized body of men called Christians followed the teachings of Jesus. The church was then

pure, and the apostle refers to the same as a pure virgin espoused to Christ. (2 Cor. 11:2) Later that organization was overreached by Satan through his organization.

It is also true that the Israelites took the name of Jehovah God, and were his covenant people and agreed to do his will. They were a prophetic people foretelling the Christian people of God. Because of the unfaithfulness of the Israelites God withdrew his favor from them, and they became the captives to Babylon. What happened to that people was prophetic, and foretold what would happen, and what did come to pass, with those who control the organization called the "Christian church".

Many centuries ago the religion named the "Christian religion", and which was organized, ceased to be the true religion because the leaders and principal ones in the flock thereof fell away and became captive to Babylon, which is the Devil's organization. Their unfaithfulness to God and to Christ was the reason therefor. Satan therefore overreached and corrupted the organization and in due time controlled it. Satan blinded the people and drew them away from the truth of God's Word and from the study thereof, and since that time the organization has been Christian in name only, having within its folds some good, honest people, and many hypocrites.

'But,' another asks, 'surely it can not be denied that the religion of "Christendom" holds to the name of Christ and of God, and publicly calls upon the name of God and of Christ and prays to God in public, and is not their religion therefore still the true Christian religion?' To such the answer is that Satan's method is always fraudulent. He induced men in the very dawn of man's history to hypocritically call

themselves by the name of the Lord, and he has been doing that time and again since. (Gen. 4:26) The Israelites were God's chosen and covenant people and they called themselves by the name of the Lord, and because of their unfaithfulness God said to them: "This people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart [devotion] far from me." (Isa. 29:13) To the same effect Paul wrote a prophecy concerning the very time in which we are now living, in which he said: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be ... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." — 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

As men in the days of Enos were hypocrites and called themselves by the name of God (Gen. 4: 26); as the Pharisees and other religious leaders of the Jews called themselves by the name of God and were hypocritical (Matt. 23:12-35); even so the religionists of Christendom are hypocritical, because they claim to be God's people and take the name of Christ and call themselves Christians, but by their very words and course of action deny that they serve God and follow Christ. Thus the old "whore", Babylon, has denied and debauched that which is called "organized Christianity". Satan accomplished this evil result by his fraud and deception, and by turning the people away from Jehovah.

Before the Lord came to his temple many students of the Scriptures believed and taught that the Catholic system is "Babylon" and "the mother of harlots". In that they were in error. Babylon is Satan's organization and gives birth to every evil organization. Babylon, being the harlot and mother of harlots, is

the one that causes other organizations to commit harlotry. When the early church fell away from God and was seduced by the Devil and became a part of his organization, that organization then called the church took the name of the "mother" as well as of the father. The Catholic church became a part of the Devil's organization; and also the Protestant church, when it fell away and joined hands with Satan's organization and made an alliance therewith and thereby became guilty of adultery. Leaders of both the Catholic and Protestant systems were blinded and led away into evil by Satan's fraud and deception. In both Catholic and Protestant church organizations there have been and are now honest and sincere persons; but they have failed to walk in the light of Christ, and therefore Satan has blinded them to the truth. Many of these are crying for relief because they are "prisoners" in the Babylonish or devilish organization, and the Lord has given his promise that in due time these shall be delivered.

The clergy leaders of Christendom now bring into their pulpits politicians and financiers to teach the people, well knowing that such would-be teachers have no understanding of or faith in God and Christ Jesus. They also welcome in their pulpits the Jewish rabbis, who deny the blood of Christ. They also have in their pulpits the teachers of Hinduism, Buddhists and Christian Scientists so called, and all manner of religious leaders; and they tell the people to 'believe anything they like, because they can be saved by one religion as well as by another'. Because of their attempt to follow a way of salvation contrary to the Lord God's provision, there has resulted confusion in all the organized systems of so-called "Christianity".

It has been Babylon, the Devil's organization, working by and through the Devil religion, that has brought the politicians and the rulers of the world into the fold of so-called "organized religion" and caused these rulers to commit fornication with that unholy system. (Rev. 11:8) It has been this same Devil's organization called Babylon that has opened her foul arms and received the commercial giants and profiteers and merchants of the earth into her fold, and has bidden them to partake of her illicit delicacies. These have been made the principal ones in the religious flock. (Rev. 18:3; Jer. 25:34) The history of ancient Babylon therefore clearly and prophetically foretold the present religious condition of so-called Christendom or organized Christianity.

MODERN EGYPT

Satan's organization is called "the world" because it consists of an invisible and a visible part, and the nations and peoples have for centuries been under Satan's control and therefore form a part of the world. For this reason it is designated in the Scriptures as the "evil world". Satan is the prince or god of this world. (John 14: 30; 2 Cor. 4: 3, 4) God caused the record of ancient Egypt to be made as a prophecy foretelling the conditions that would obtain on earth at the time of the coming of Christ and his kingdom. Therefore ancient Egypt more particularly magnified the commercial and military part of the modern satanic organization. Jesus Christ was crucified in the world, and the place is therefore mentioned by the Scriptures as Egypt. (Rev. 11:8) This is another proof that Egypt was Satan's organization and that his organization still persists on earth.

Egypt was noted for her wealth and for her military power. The wealth of the world was never so great as it is today, particularly in the nations called Christendom. There are a few millionaires and billionaires, but there are hundreds of millions of paupers, in Christendom. The latter are oppressed by the ultra-rich, even as the poor of ancient Egypt were oppressed. It is the commercial power that makes wars, and this in turn opens the way for them to greatly increase their material wealth. All the great transportation systems; all the great banks and financial institutions; all the light and power corporations; all the great buildings in the cities; and almost all the food-producing lands and nearly all the material wealth of the world today, are owned and controlled by the great commercial giants of Christendom. All the great battleships, submarines, aircraft, explosives, guns, and other weapons of war, are held and owned by the rich governmental powers of Christendom. Does this great material wealth, and do these instruments of destruction, form a part of God's organization? Does Jehovah God's organization, of which Christ is the Head, have any need of such weapons and instruments of destruction? It is so manifest that all these are owned by Satan's organization that no one should doubt.

The commercial giants of earth today accept the so-called "Christian religion" because they can pay the purchase price thereof, and they hope to be saved thereby from dire penalties that might be brought upon them for evil-doing. By reason of the Devil's fraudulent religion the merchants of earth have waxed rich and enjoyed many delicacies. They have paid for religious protection and consolation, but the time rapidly approaches when they will awake to

the fact that they have been duped by the Devil's arrangement or organization named Babylon, and particularly by the religious part thereof.

MODERN ASSYRIA

Ancient Assyria was a powerful political organization, with the political rulers in the van. The great power, however, was really exercised by the commercial interests. The political power or representative was in fact the spokesman for the commercial power. Great military organizations were formed and employed to enforce the decrees of the rulers. The Devil religion furnished the camouflage for the bloody and cruel operations of that organization. This was done, as the prophet says, "because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts." — Nah. 3:4.

"Christendom," so called, is modern Assyria, corresponding so exactly that it seems certain that God caused the record of ancient Assyria to be made prophetically foretelling the condition on earth at the present time. Today the politicians of the nations of earth are in the van and are speaking great swelling words of their ability to adjust the difficulties of the world and to establish a satisfactory condition. The power behind these political rulers and spokesmen is the great commercial factors of the world. It is the latter that really provide the means for the mighty military machines to enforce the decrees of the rulers.

As the political and financial element of ancient Assyria adopted the Devil religion of that time, even so the religious element of Christendom today ably

supports the political and financial factors in world policies. Catholics and Protestants, Jewish rabbis and all other "approved" religionists, join together in extolling the virtues of the modern ruling powers, and boast of the ability to establish peace on earth and good-will toward men.

Ancient Assyria was a bloody organization. There is more human blood properly charged up to modern Assyria, otherwise called "Christendom", than to any other period of the world's history. In the World War millions of people poured out their life-blood, and many more millions have been the prey of the great military powers of Christendom.

Ancient Assyria was "full of lies and robbery". , (Nah. 3:1) The ten years immediately following the World War have been made prominent by the divers fraudulent and false schemes to exploit and rob the people. The farmer has been exploited and robbed by schemes of the financiers, in which the other two ruling factors have rendered aid in wrong-doing. The burden of taxation has been greatly increased, and many persons have lost their homes and lands by reason of exorbitant and unreasonable tax burdens placed against their property for public improvements. Public officials have become the bosses of the people instead of being servants of the people. The great financiers name the political candidates and permit the people to go through the form of voting for them, and then elect those whom the financial power desires. This is particularly true in America. The great financial institutions control the food and raiment supply that the people must have for their maintenance and support.

Material wealth was never so great as it is in modern Christendom, but this wealth is held by a few.

Every nation is bristling with guns, warships, aircraft and high explosives, and other means for the destruction of human life.

The political rulers are making peace pacts and thereby claiming that they will outlaw war, while at the same time every nation of Christendom is making greater preparation for war than at any time past. In this policy the political element is strongly supported by the commercial and the religious element.

The religious element of Christendom, while claiming to follow Christ, deny his second coming and his kingdom, and refuse to hear and obey the Word of God. The clergy and religious leaders are proud, haughty, boasters, false accusers of those who serve God, and despisers of all who diligently seek to tell the people the truth in the name of the Lord God. Being a factor of Satan's organization, the religionists are supported by the other ruling factors because the latter believe it expedient for them so to do.

Paul wrote a prophecy which is in this very day coming to pass, even as he said: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." — 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

Babylon, Egypt and Assyria emphasize, therefore, the three elements of Satan's visible organization. Thereafter the three ruling elements were manifested in all succeeding world powers. Medo-Persia, Greece

and Rome followed in the order named. Each of those world powers practised the Devil religion. The religion of ancient Rome was called pagan. In the course of time the stronger political rulers of Rome adopted the "Christian religion" and carried into that organization, so formed, many of the ceremonies practised by the pagans. Rome became a great military power, and her commercial and political and religious interests walked hand in hand in oppressing the people.

Then came the British Empire as a mighty world power, and in this the three elements, commercial, political and religious, formed the ruling factors and continue to rule. It too has become a tremendous commercial power and a great and cruel military power, and the religionists form a part of the government. Surely it could not be said that any one of these world powers is any part of God's organization. Since there are but two great organizations, this empire must of necessity be of Satan's organization. Exactly the same is true concerning America, where the three elements of Satan's organization rule the people.

The World War produced a condition making possible the formation of the eighth world power, to wit, the League of Nations, and that was foretold in prophecy. (Isa. 8:9,10; Rev. 17:9,11) That alliance or pact was formed by the political element, aided and supported by the financial and military factors, and fully supported and approved by the religionists of Christendom. The latter openly declared in 1919 that 'the League of Nations constitutes God's kingdom on earth' and substitutes therefor. Can it be honestly contended that the League of Nations constitutes any part of God's organization? If not, then certainly it is of Satan's organization.

OPPOSING GOD

In 1914 Christ Jesus was placed upon his throne by Jehovah. That same year the World War began, and during that war the hatred of combined Christendom was made manifest against all who sincerely served Jehovah God. The great Prophet of God foretold that condition when he said: "And ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." —Matt. 24:9.

It was in 1918 that all the nations of Christendom involved in the World War openly expressed and manifested a hatred against those who insisted on serving God and telling the people of his coming kingdom for their blessing. Those humble followers of Christ were haled into court, were tried upon false charges and perjured testimony, and were wrongfully convicted. Many were imprisoned, others beaten, and others killed. They were thrown into military prisons and grossly ill-treated because they humbly asked the privilege to serve God and tell his Word of truth and obey his injunction not to kill. Such hatred could have been expressed only by Satan's organization and instigated by Satan himself.

The 'seed of Satan' and the 'seed of the woman' were at that time brought forth and made manifest, and Jehovah said that there would be enmity between them, and that the 'seed of Satan would bruise the heel of the Seed of the woman'. Christ is the 'Seed of the woman', and his last faithful followers on earth constitute the "feet of him", including the heel. That prophecy long ago uttered began to have its fulfilment in 1918.

The other great wonder or sign, which appeared after 1918 to those who by the grace of God have been enabled to see heavenly things, is Satan's cruel, blood-guilty organization standing ready to devour

the kingdom of God, represented by the man child which was born. (Rev. 12:1-4) It is well known to all that the clergy and religious leaders of "Christendom", so called, hate and violently oppose those who insist on telling the people that Jehovah is God, that Christ is King, that his kingdom is here, that Jehovah has set him upon his throne, and that shortly he will establish a righteous government and destroy all evil. The Devil hates those who faithfully represent Jehovah, and seeks to devour them; and the clergy and religious leaders of Christendom also hate them, because they do the will of their father whose children or "seed" they are. — John 8:42,44.

Satan has made Christendom a part of Babylon, and therefore the name Babylon applies to Christendom because it is of Satan's organization. Through the false religionists of Satan's organization, the political and commercial rulers of earth have been drawn into that evil system. The Lord makes it evident that they" have been deceived, because he says that in his due time these shall awake to the truth, in a measure at least, and rid themselves of the vile religious system.

MORAL CONDITIONS

Prior to the World War the moral conditions of the earth were bad enough, but all will agree that since the World War the moral degeneracy is far worse. There is great corruption in public official places. The exploiting of the people is boldly carried on; the public press is full of accounts of crime and scandal. Even the vice among young students has become such that it is appalling and causing great concern to parents. Many honest persons join in the effort to prohibit the manufacture and use of intoxicating liquors, believing that in so doing they will aid

the moral status of the people. The facts show that, the Devil has seized upon this condition to increase immorality and debauchery.

Prior to the World War it was thought to be wrong for men to indulge in the use of tobacco and liquor. Since the war women use both tobacco and liquor, even more freely than men, and this is extended even to young girls and boys in the public schools. Because of these alarming conditions many good people are now seeking earnestly to find the remedy. There must be a reason for this terrible condition. There is a reason, and the Lord God's great Prophet assigned that reason, and it is this:

In 1914 Jehovah placed his King upon his throne. (Ps. 2:6) There followed a war in heaven, with Christ Jesus and his angels on one side against Satan and his angels on the other side, which war resulted in the casting of Satan out of heaven. (Rev. 12:7-9) Then it is recorded that, because Satan was cast out of heaven, there was great rejoicing; and at the same time it was announced: "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ." (Rev. 12:10) Then says the prophet of God: "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the Devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (Rev. 12:12) Thus the prophecy shows that the Devil is now devoting his entire attention to the things of this earth. The "inhabiters of the earth" are those who control the affairs of the earth; and, in fulfilment of this prophecy, at this time there is great perplexity and distress amongst those who do rule, and they are unable to ascertain the reason why. (Luke 21: 26) The "sea" in this prophecy represents the masses of restless hu-

manity, the condition of which grows worse day by day. This explains the reason why there has been such a great moral degeneracy during the past ten years.

The evidence is conclusive that Satan's organization is now in control of the affairs of earth. The great Prophet of God foretold this condition and it has now come to pass. Carrying out his well-laid plan, Satan is now desperately trying to turn all the peoples of earth away from Jehovah God and to plunge all humanity into the depths of wickedness. He knows that the climax is at hand; hence his desperate deeds of corruption and debauchery.

Politicians and commercial giants may try to reform the conditions; the clergy may talk of bringing about ideal conditions on earth; and all together they may make peace pacts and declare that they will bring about lasting peace, but the joint efforts of all will fail. There is no power on earth now that is able to remedy earth's evils. Satan's organization is in control, and the people's hands are shackled. There are many people of good-will, in the church denominations and outside thereof, who by their combined efforts will try to remedy present conditions; but they can not. There is a remedy, and it is complete. It is the only remedy; and it is of much vital importance that the peoples of the nations of earth now be given an opportunity to know what that remedy is.

To give such information is the very purpose of this publication. It is of vital importance that the people know the cause of the evil, before they can appreciate how the evil can be eradicated. When we see what constitutes Satan's organization, how cruel, wicked, harsh, bloody, immoral and powerful it is, then we can begin to see the necessity of a greater

power to destroy it. At once it becomes apparent that no human powers could accomplish this end. When we see also that the so-called "Christian religion" or "organized Christianity" upholds, aids and supports in carrying on this devilish and oppressive system, then we may know that organized Christianity, so called, is not God's religion, but the religion of the Devil; and we may know it is a part of the Devil's organization. It is therefore apparent why the clergy and religious leaders of today oppose the truth that is being promulgated by a company of humble Christians who are generally known as Bible Students.

Never was it so important as now that the people know the truth. Satan is putting forth all his efforts to prevent the people from knowing the truth. Many of the rulers are deceived and blinded by Satan, and likewise the people are blind to the truth. What, then, shall be done that the people may know the truth?